Grambling loses in SWAC tourney opener

NEW ORLEANS — A Grambling State Tigers four-run fourth inning deficit vanished and an Alcorn State Braves four-run seventh-inning lead dwindled to 8-7, but Alcorn (16-34,10-13 SWAC) slipped away with a win in the first round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament.

Grambling State (22-26, 15-11 SWAC) was gritty on offense and defense. After each four-run deficit, the Tigers forced zeroes in the fourth through sixth innings, and the eighth and ninth innings. The GSU offense came alive, outputting six runs in an equal number of innings. In total, the Tigers racked up 13 hits and five RBIs.

Grambling State Coach James Cooper described his team’s resilience saying, “It’s tough when you’re dealing with young competitors like this. When you’re on those roller-coaster rides like that being down, being up , being down, trying to tie the game, it takes some of the fight out of you.

“That’s what happened today, and that’s why we didn’t get a chance to drive in those runs late to take the lead.”

Third baseman Daniel Barnett and left fielder Malcolm Boyce each went 2-for-4, scoring once.